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Drinking Water Treatment:
Reverse Osmosis
Bruce I. Dvorak, Extension Environmental Engineering Specialist;
Sharon O. Skipton, Extension Water Quality Educator
Homeowners can find out more about reverse
osmosis in this guide, which discusses the principles
and process of RO treatment for household drinking
water.
Contaminants removed from water by reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filters frequently are
used to reduce the levels of total dissolved solids and suspended
particles within water. Some contaminants treated effectively
by RO membrane filters are listed in Table I. This table is not
an exhaustive list of contaminants that RO may remove, but
rather lists those for which RO can be a practical treatment
method for treating household drinking water.
Table I. Contaminants removed by household reverse osmosis units.
Ions and Metals Arsenic, Aluminum, Barium, Cadmium, Calcium,
Chloride, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Iron, Lead,
Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nitrate, Potassium,
Radium, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Sulfate, Zinc
Particles Asbestos, Protozoan cysts, Cryptosporidium
Pesticides Endrin, Heptachlor, Lindane, Pentachlorophenol
Reverse osmosis can remove microorganisms. However, it
is not recommended for that use (i.e., only coliform-free water
should be fed to the system) because membrane deterioration
can occur due to the bacteria, and contamination may occur
through pinhole leaks.
Contaminants not removed from water by reverse
osmosis­­
Contaminants not removed from water by RO filters
include dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulfide, a common
nuisance contaminant with characteristic rotten egg odor,
which passes through the RO membrane. Some pesticides,
solvents and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are not re-
moved by RO. Refer to Extension Circular EC703, Drinking
Water Treatment: An Overview for a discussion of possible
water quality problems and appropriate treatments for these
contaminants. The RO membrane’s efficiency in reducing the
G1490
(Revised October 2008)
amount of contaminant in the water depends on the contami-
nant concentration, chemical properties of the contaminant,
the membrane type and condition, and operating conditions.
Refer to the section in this guide on the RO process for ex-
planation of these factors.
No one piece of treatment equipment manages all con-
taminants. All treatment methods have limitations and often
situations require a combination of treatment processes to
effectively treat the water. Activated Carbon (AC) filtration
and/or sediment filtration is commonly used in conjunction
with RO filters. Sediment filters help remove silt particles that
may foul the RO membrane. AC filters remove chlorine and
certain pesticides and organic solvents that the RO membrane
is not as effective in removing (see Table II). The section in
this guide on equipment discusses this concept.
Table II. Contaminants removed by activated carbon filter commonly
included in a household reverse osmosis system.
Ions and Metals Chlorine, Radon
Organic Chemicals Benzen1, Carbon tetrachloride, Dichlorobenzene,
Toluene, Trichloroethylene, Total Trihalomethanes
(THMs)
Pesticides 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 2,4-D, Atrazine
Water testing
Regardless of the water treatment system being considered,
the water should first be tested to determine which contami-
nants are present. Public water systems are routinely tested for
contaminants. Water utilities are required to publish Consumer
Confidence Reports (CCRs), which inform consumers on the
source of the water, contaminants present, potential health
effects­of those contaminants, and methods of treatment used
by the utility. Depending on the population served by the utility,
CCRs may be mailed, posted in newspapers or posted on the
Internet. Copies of the CCR can be obtained from the local
water utility. Public supplies must conform to federal standards
established by the Safe Drinking Water Act. If contaminants
exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), the water
must be treated to correct the problem and/or another source
of water suitable for drinking must be provided.

Concentrated
Dilute
Semipermeable Water Flow
Membrane
Figure 1. In osmosis, water moves across the membrane from the dilute
to the concentrated solution. From “Water Treatment Notes:
Reverse Osmosis Treatment of Drinking Water,” Cornell Coopera-
tive Extension, New York State College of Human Ecology.
In contrast, monitoring private water systems is the
con­sumer’s responsibility. Therefore, contamination is more
likely to go undetected in a private water supply. Knowledge
of what contaminants may be present in the water should
guide the testing, since it is not economically feasible to test
for all possible contaminants.
It is essential to know what contaminants are present,
their quantities, and reasons for removal (i.e., health risks,
tastes or odors, etc.) prior to selecting treatment methods or
equipment. Refer to NebGuide G907 Drinking Water: Testing
for Quality for testing information.
Treatment principles
RO is based on the principle of osmosis. In osmosis,
a membrane separates two solutions containing different
amounts of dissolved chemicals. The membrane allows some
compounds like water to pass through it, but does not allow
larger compounds through (i.e., a semipermeable membrane).
Pressure differences cause pure water to pass through the
membrane from the dilute to the more concentrated solution.
The pressure is called osmotic pressure and this process is
osmosis. The natural tendency is for water to move through
the membrane from the dilute to the concentrated solution
until chemicals reach equal concentrations on both sides of
the membrane. Figure 1 shows the natural osmotic process.
In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the concen-
trated side of the membrane (the contaminated side). This
forces the osmotic process into reverse so that, with adequate
applied pressure, pure water is forced from the concentrated
(contaminated) side to the dilute (treated) side. Treated water
is collected in a storage container. The rejected contaminants
on the concentrated side of the membrane are washed away as
wastewater. Figure 2 shows the reverse osmosis process.
The amount of treated water that an RO membrane typi-
cally used in the home can produce, per day, is in the range
of 10 to 35 gallons per day. The amount of treated water pro-
duced depends on several factors, including membrane type
and condition, operating conditions (such as flow control and
pressure) and feed water quality (i.e., contaminant concentra-
tion, temperature and pH).
Feed Water
Storage Tank Under Pressure
Treated Water Rejected Contaminants
(Diluted) (Concentrate)
Water Flow
Semipermeable Waste Stream
Membrane to Drain
Figure 2. In reverse osmosis, pressure is applied to the concentrated
solution reversing the natural direction of flow, forcing water
across the membrane from the concentrated solution into the
more dilute solution. From “Water Treatment Notes: Reverse
Osmosis Treatment of Drinking Water,” Cornell Cooperative
Extension, New York State College of Human Ecology.
Two measures of performance of an RO membrane
are recovery rate and rejection rate. Recovery rate refers
to the fact that only part of the water that flows into an RO
system comes out as treated water. Part of the water fed into
the system is used as wastewater to wash away the rejected
contaminants. The recovery rate is therefore a measure of
efficiency calculated as:
% Recovery = (Volume of treated water produced /
Total volume of feed water) x 100
The use of large quantities of water to produce little treated
water may be avoided by properly designed RO systems. Most
household RO systems are designed with a 20 percent - 30
percent recovery rate.
This means that a system with 100 gallons/day of un-
treated water fed to it and a 20 percent recovery rate would
yield 20 gallons/day of treated water and dispose of 80 gal-
lons/day in the waste stream. Proper adjustment of the flow
regulator on the side of the waste stream is important. If the
flow of wastewater is slow, more time is available for water
to pass through the membrane, so the recovery rate is higher.
However, RO membranes are readily fouled if concentrated
contaminants are not washed away soon enough. Conversely,
if the waste flow rate is too fast, the recovery rate is low and
excessive water flows down the drain.
Closely related to flow rate, water pressure is another
key factor in RO systems. The incoming feed line pressure
must be adequate to overcome the osmotic pressure and any
backpressure generated from the storage tank “down-line”
from the membrane. Auxiliary pumps can be added to increase
incoming water pressure as necessary. Generally, the higher
the pressure difference across the membrane the better the
rejection of contaminants and recovery rate. Also, some RO
systems have shut off valves to stop flow whenever storage
tank pressure is too high for efficient recovery or if the stor-
age tank is full.
Temperature and pH of the feed water are also factors
in performance. There is a 1 to 2 percent decrease in treated
water produced for every degree below the standard 77oF. Well
water at 45oF (a typical temperature for Nebraska groundwater)
would produce about half the amount of treated water that
would be produced at 77oF. Also, slightly acidic feed water
may prolong the life of the membrane and help decrease scale
buildup in the system.
The rejection rate is the percentage of contaminant that is
not allowed to move through the membrane. A rejection rate
is calculated for each contaminant separately, as well as for
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). For contaminants that cause
health concerns, the rejection rate needs to be high enough
to reduce the contaminant to a safe level. The quality of the
incoming water, or feed water, is crucial here. For example, if
the water supply contains nitrate at 40 mg/L, an RO membrane
with 85 percent rejection would reject 40 x 0.85 = 34 mg/L
nitrate, leaving 6 mg/L in the treated water.
However, if the water supply contains 80 mg/L nitrate, an
85 percent rejection rate would reduce the nitrate concentra-
tion to 12 mg/L in the treated water. This nitrate level, even
after RO treatment, is above the maximum contaminant level
(MCL) of 10 mg/L nitrate set by the EPA.
Equipment
Treatment systems can be classified as either Point-of-Use
(POU) or Point-of-Entry (POE). POU devices treat water at
the point it is used, such as the faucet. Most RO systems are
POU systems placed under the sink or on the countertop. A
separate faucet is generally installed at the sink to allow the
option of using treated water only for drinking and cooking.
Water treated by RO can be more corrosive than untreated
water so special plumbing, in addition to the faucet, is installed
with RO systems.
POE devices treat water as it enters the household so all
water used within the house is treated. POE reverse osmosis
units are more costly to purchase, install and operate than
POU systems.
Although the RO process is simple, the complete system
is often complex. Typical RO systems consist of a pretreat-
ment filter, the RO membrane, flow regulator, post-treatment
filter, storage tank and dispensing faucet as shown in Figure
3. AC or sediment filters before the RO membrane and AC
filters after the RO membrane are commonly used. Pre-filters
help extend the life of the system by removing silt and other
large particles and/or chlorine that may be harmful to the RO
membrane. If the feed water is not chlorinated, AC filters
should not be used for pre-filtration because they can encour-
age microbial growth on the membrane surface. In this case,
only a sediment pre-filter is recommended. AC post-filters can
also remove certain pesticides and organic solvents that the
RO membrane does not remove. The AC treatment process is
also improved since the RO membrane removes compounds
that may hinder adsorption by the carbon.
Membrane selection is an important aspect of RO treatment
that can significantly affect performance. The most common
membrane materials are polyamide thin-film composites (TFC)
or cellulose-type membranes. Both are synthetic fibers. The
membrane can be spiral wound (like a rolled-up newspaper),
or individual hollow fibers can be bundled together. This
Activated Carbon
Prefilter Sediment
(optional) Prefilter
Pump Feed
(optional) Water
Dispensing
Faucet
Activated High Pressure
Carbon Switch
RO
Mem- Postfilter
brane
Storage
Flow Tank for
Restrictor Product Water
Drain
Waste Flow
Figure 3.  A schematic of a typical RO system. From “Water Treatment
Notes: Reverse Osmosis Treatment of Drinking Water,” Cornell Cooperative
Extension, New York State College of Human Ecology.
provides a very large surface area for water treatment within
a compact tube element.
TFC membranes are more costly, but have greater strength
and durability than cellulose-types. They have higher total
dissolved solids rejection rates, are more resistant to micro-
bial attack and are more tolerant of high pH. Cellulose type
membranes are less costly and can tolerate chlorine, which
is commonly used for disinfection of drinking water. TFC
membranes deteriorate in chlorinated water. If the feed water
is chlorinated and a TFC membrane is used, an AC prefilter
is needed to remove chlorine from the water.
Another type of membrane is a sulfonated polysulfone
(SPS) membrane. SPS membranes are tolerant of chlorine
and can withstand higher pH levels, but are more costly than
cellulose-types and less effective than TFC membranes. SPS
membranes can be used in RO systems when the water is soft
and pH is high.
The storage tank generally has a capacity of 2 to 5 gal-
lons. It is pressurized to provide adequate flow when the tap
is open. Post-filters can be used for removing any taste and
odor compounds or residual organics not removed by the RO
process. If an AC filter is used for pre-filtration, post-filtration
can be eliminated.
Monitoring gauges and lights are also becoming increas-
ingly common. Shut-off valves are important to stop water
flow when the storage tank is full, so excess water is not
wasted. Since RO treatment uses significant amounts of water,
consideration must be given to the adequacy of the household
septic system. The wastewater, carrying rejected contaminants,
typically is connected to a household drain and this wastewater
increases the load on the septic system.
As with any drinking water treatment system, regular
maintenance is important to extend the life of the system and
to help ensure peak performance. Pre-filters and post-filters
require regular replacement. The length of time before prefilter
replacement depends upon water volume, quality and con-
taminant concentration. Post-filter replacement also depends
on contaminant concentration, as well as membrane rejection
percentages and AC removal efficiency. Manufacturers and
dealers can assist in determining replacement intervals.
Microorganisms (alive or dead) can clog RO membranes.
This is called bio-fouling. Disinfect RO systems regularly
with products provided by the manufacturer. Clogged RO
membranes can decrease water flow in the system and cause
poor performance. If membrane fouling is detected early, it
is possible to clean and regenerate the membrane; the method
depends on the type of membrane and fouling. Completely
clogged or torn membranes require replacement. However,
damaged RO membranes are not easily detected. Periodically
test water to determine if the membrane is intact and function-
ing properly. Many systems are equipped with a monitor that
indicates high total dissolved solids content or inadequate
TDS rejection, one indicator of improper functioning. For
relatively hard water, pretreatment of the water by a softener
can increase the life of the membrane.
Selection Requirements
Federal, state or local laws do not regulate home RO drink-
ing water treatment systems. The industry is self-regulated.
The National Sanitation Foundation and the Water Quality
Association evaluate performance, construction, advertis-
ing, and operation manual information. The NSF program
establishes performance standards that must be met for en-
dorsement and certification. The WQA program uses the same
NSF standards and provides equivalent American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited product certifications.
WQA-certified products carry the Water Quality Association
Gold Seal. Though these certifications and validations should
not be the only criteria for choosing an RO system, they are
helpful to ensure effectiveness of the system.
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties
and the United States Department of Agriculture.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
and the United States Department of Agriculture.
© 2003-2008, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension. All rights reserved.
Other important guidelines for consumers purchasing
drinking water treatment equipment are discussed in NebGuide
G1488 Drinking Water Treatment: What You Need to Know
When Selecting Water Treatment Equipment. The NebGuide
drinking water treatment series focuses on contaminants most
likely to be encountered in Nebraska drinking water supplies.
It is possible that some water supplies may contain contami-
nants not addressed here, such as cryptosporidium, giardia,
hexavalent chromium and others. Reverse osmosis systems
may remove some of these contaminants as well.
Summary
Drinking water treatment using RO is one option for the
homeowner to treat drinking water problems. RO is an effec-
tive method to reduce certain ions and metals, such as nitrate
and arsenic. It is often used in combination with AC filtration.
Selecting an RO system should be based on water analysis and
assessment of the individual homeowner’s needs and situation.
Regular maintenance of the membrane and replacement of any
filters/cartridges are critical factors in maintaining effective-
ness and reducing bacterial contamination of the system. NSF
and the WQA test and certify products and this certification
and validation can help guide selection.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of
former UNL extension engineer Jodi Kocher, who collaborated
with them in the previous version of this NebGuide.
This publication has been peer reviewed.
UNL Extension publications are available online
at http://extension.unl.edu/publications.
Index: Water Management
Drinking Water
Revised October 2008